Washing-machine



J. W. LOUDENBACK.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED 1UNEH, 1919.

Patented Feb. 24,1920.

cfow WZ omrzacfa INVENTOR ATTORN EY UNYTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LOUDENIBACK, OF STUART, IOWA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO W. H. IJEE, OF

' STUART, IOWA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

Application filed June 11, 1919. Serial No. 303,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN W. LOUDENBAGK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stuart, in the county of Guthrie and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machines. L

The object is to provide a washing machine for the cleansing of clothes, wherein the latter are subjected to the double action of a revolving receptacle and a reversely rotating rubber which combine to keep the clothes, and the water in which they are immersed, in a constant state of agitatiomthus quickly and thoroughly cleansing the same without the danger of damaging them as in machines where the clothes are subjected to theaction of beaters or similar devices.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character wherein provision is made for the ready adjustment of the rubbing means to adapt the same to the particular amount or pile of clothes to be operated upon, and to enable the rubber to be easily released and thrown up out of the way, when it is desired to remove the clothes from the receptacle.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as specifically pointed out in the appended chine, the'legs being shown in section, and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustratthereto.

in the means for holding the agitator in adjusted position.-

Referring to the drawing there is illustrated a supporting frame comprising four spaced upright standards 1, arranged in pairs and each pair connected at their tops y cross pieces 2, and intermediate of their heights by similar cross pieces 3. At a point adjacent to the top cross pieces 2, the pairs of standards are further connected by pieces 4 which serve to support a transversely disposed bar 5, arranged centrally of the frame and spaced a sufficient distance above the cross pieces 3 for the accommodation of the clothes receptacle 6, which is mounted to freely revolve therebetween in a manner to be described.

The pairs of standards, in addition to the transversely disposed bar 5, are further connected by front and rear bars 7 which are jointed to the cross pieces 3 at points between the center line of the frame and the front and rear standards 1,-as clearly shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawing.

Arranged parallel with the cross pieces 3, and at points substantially midway between the same and the center of the frame, are other cross pieces 8 which are connected at their ends to the bars 7 thus forming therewith a strong and durable rectangular tub, or. receptacle-supporting frame work having the diagonally disposed socket bar 9 secured The several parts thus far described may be formed of suitable wood and connected together in any desirable manner socket 10, countersunk therein and provided with an anti-frictionball race in its upper face'adapted to receive balls 11 which 00- act with a similar ball race formed in the lower-face of a beveled gear 12, secured centrally to the lower face of the bottom of the receptacle 6, and having a central pin 13 adapted to fit the socket 10 and pre vent the lateral. displacement of the said receptacle.

- The front and rear bars 7 and the cross pieces 8 each carry a beveled pinion 14, arranged radiallv to the central pin 13, and meshing with the beveled gear 12 and are adapted to assist in supporting the weight the shaft ofone of the pinions is extended toward the adjacent cross bar 3, through which the same passes, and is provided at its outer end with a sprocket wheel 15 arranged exteriorly to the cross piece 3.

The cross piece 2 at the top of that pair of'standards adjacent to the sprocket wheel 15, is provided with a bearing 16, and an inwardly extended arm 17 arranged centrally thereof and directed toward the axis of th -receptacle 6, and provided at its inner end with a similar bearing18 in alinement with the bearing 16, and adapted to receive the horizontally disposed shaft 19, provided at its outer end with a sprocket wheel 20, somewhat larger than the sprocket wheel 15 and located directly above the same, the two wheels being connected by a suitable sprocket chain '21, which, upon power being applied to the shaft 19, as

through the medium of a hand crank 22,

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 ofthe draw- 1ng,will impart motion to the beveled pin ion 14: having connection with the sprocket wheel 15 and serves to revolve the tub or eledpinion 24 splined onthe vertical staff 25 of the dolly or rubber 26 located within the receptacle 6 and adapted to co-act with certain means to be described to agitate and cleanse the clothesplaced therein.

The staif. 25 extends through the top or.

cower 27 of the tub or receptacle 6 and-is adapted to freely slide therein to elevate the rubber 26 to different distances from the bottom of the receptacle 6 depending on the amount of clothes therein, the said rubber being of the usual disk form, and "having a plurality of radial ribs 26 formed thereon and adapted-to co-act with a series of key-way 28 extending throughout the major portion of its length, from the top end thereof and is engaged by a suitable key carried by the beveled pinion 24 so that the Said staff will at all times be actuated in a rotary direction by its engagement withthe said pinion when the latter is rotated by the hand crank 22, and it will be noted, by reason of the particular arrangement, that theagitator 26 will be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tub or receptacle 6.

Thestaif 25 is furthermore provided with a series of annular grooves 29 arranged 111 spaced relation at the .top thereof, any desired one of whichis adapted to be grasped by a pair of spring actuated clamping members 30, pivotally mounted, as at 31, upon a bracket 32 and having arcuately formed jaws 33 conforming to the annular grooves 29 in the staff 25 and adapted to enter the same andfit the staff, to permit the same to freely revolve and at the same time to preventit from dropping. I Y

The'clamping members 30am extended beyond the pivotal point 31 and arerfiared outwardly, as shown to form handles 34, a leaf spring 35 being interposed between the same and secured to one of the handles, to normally hold the same in separated position while exerting an inward pressure upon the arcuate ends 33 as will be readily seen.

A bearing 36 in the formgof a metallic casting: and having a widened base'37 is secured to the upper face of the transverse bar 5, and at a central point thereof, and is suitably bored for the reception of the staff 25, through which the latter passes and is securely braced thereby and allowed to freely rotatether ein, the clamping members 30 resting upon the upper end of the same to support the weight of the staif and agitator and forming a convenient means for supporting the inner end ofthe bracket 32 to whichjthe latter is suitably secured.

The tub or receptacle 6- is provided with the 'usual hingedlid section 6 which is adapted to beheld in closed position by any suitable cla-mp 6 to prevent accidental opening of the same, or the spilling of the water within the receptacle, during the rotation of the latter,- a suitable gasket 6 being interposed between the lid and the receptacle for the purpose;

The, front and i ,7 w rear bars 7 are extended and formed into handles 7 to facilitate the sprocket chain 21 in awell-known manner.

7 From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple, strong and durable washing machine" has been provided, having means for positively driving the tub or receptacle and the rubber in opposite directions, and that the latter maybe easily and quickly lowered or elevated toac'conunodate a lesser or a greater amount of clothes 01 other articles within the receptacle, the latteri being suitably ribbed or corrugated upon its inner" periph-' eral wall, in the customarymanner to assist in the turning of the'said clothes to facilitate the washing process. I r Y What is claimed is I V V 1. A-washi-ng machine CO}, prising a frame, a clothes receptacle rotatably' mounted therein, a rubber located within the said receptacleand having a stat-f extending upwardly 130 through the top of the same, said staff having a series of annular grooves, clamping members mounted on the frame of the machine and having jaws adapted to engage one of said grooves to support the rubber at the desired elevation, and means for driving the receptacle and at the same time rotating the said rubber in the opposite direction thereto.

2. A washing machine comprising a supporting frame work, a clothes receptacle mounted to revolve around a vertical axis upon said framework, gearing carried by the latter, for rotating the receptacle in one direction, a staff projecting centrally through the cover of the receptacle and having a rubber on its lower end within the receptacle, said staff having a plurality of annular grooves provided therein and a longitudinally disposed keyway, a beveled pinion slidably mounted on the staff and keyed to rotate therewith and having connection with said gearing for rotation in an opposite direction to the receptacle, a bearing mounted on the frame to support the staff, a bracket secured to the bearing and the frame, a pair of spring-closed jaws mounted on the bracket and en aging one of the grooves for holding the rubber at the desired elevation- 3. A washing machine comprising a frame holding the rubber at the desired elevation. a rubber located within the receptacle and having a staff projecting upwardly throu h the cover of the receptacle, a gear slidab y mounted on the staff and keyed to rotate therewith, gearing mounted on the frame and connected to drive the receptacle and rubber in opposite directions, annular grooves provided on said staff, opposed jaws adapted to surround the staff and engage one of the grooves and pivoted on the frame and having extended handles for opening said jaws, and a spring for normally closing the jaws around the staff to support the rubber at the desired elevation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. LOUDENBACK.

Witnesses:

Gno. A. MARTIN, J. J. SHAW- 

